Easels — A Buyer's Guide for Beginners and Beyond
Easels are essential kit for any painter — they hold your canvas steady at the right height and angle so you can focus on actually painting. But the range of options can be overwhelming: tabletop easels, floor easels, travel easels, and large studio easels. In this guide we cover the main types, what suits beginners, and how to pick the right easel for you.
Which type of easel is right for you?
Choosing an easel comes down to where you paint, how large your canvases are, and how much space you have available. Here are the main categories:
Tabletop easels — ideal for small spaces and beginners
Tabletop easels sit on a desk or table and are perfect if you have limited space, work on smaller pieces, or are just starting out. They're also great for watercolour and acrylic work at the kitchen table. Many fold flat for easy storage, and some come with a built-in drawer for brushes and paints.
- A3 Drawing Board (30 × 47 cm) — simple, affordable, and a great first step (1,790 kr.)
- Mont Marte tabletop easel with carry bag — folds flat and goes wherever you do
- Meeden tabletop easel with metal drawer — a quality solution with built-in storage for your supplies
Floor easels — stability for larger work
Floor easels stand on the ground and are well suited to painters working on larger canvases or who prefer to work standing up. The type of frame makes a real difference here:
- A-frame: lightweight, straightforward, and compact when folded — for example the MEEDEN large A-frame studio easel.
- H-frame: very sturdy and substantial, ideal for large-scale work where you need zero wobble — such as the Studio Versatile H-frame, which accommodates canvases up to 196 cm, and the MEEDEN W11 Pro H-frame for professional use.
Travel easels — for plein air painting and painting on the go
If you want to paint outdoors or need to move around easily, a lightweight tripod easel is the way to go. The Tripod easel with carry bag is stable, folds down quickly, and comes with a bag so it's easy to take anywhere.
Multi-purpose art stations
For those who want everything in one place — easel, drawing board, and storage — all-in-one solutions like the Creative Craft Station are very popular, especially in homes where several people like to get creative.
What to keep in mind when choosing
- Canvas size: Make sure the easel can accommodate the canvases you plan to work on. Large H-frames can hold canvases up to around 195–196 cm; tabletop easels handle much smaller sizes.
- Space at home: Do you have a dedicated corner for your easel, or do you need to fold it away after each session? A-frames and tabletop easels are the most space-efficient.
- Stability: The more energetic your brushwork (think acrylics and oils), the more stability you'll want — a heavier frame stays put.
- Materials: Most of our easels are made from beech or other hardwoods that will last for years.
Something to paint on
An easel is only half the story — you'll also need canvases and paints. Browse our canvas and stretched canvas range in all sizes, and explore our fine art supplies for paints, brushes, and palettes. If you're just starting out, we also recommend checking out our guide to paints and art supplies.
Browse the full range
We stock easels for everyone — from simple drawing boards to large professional studio easels. Take a look at all easels available online at Föndurlist and find the right solution for you. We ship anywhere in Iceland, and you're also welcome to visit us in store in Hafnarfjörður.